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Books / Children’s picture books · Ages 3–6

Cover of Firefighter Obe: Stories for Big Feelings, a red firefighter helmet on a blanket tent in a sunlit meadow

Word Children’s picture books

Firefighter Obe

Stories for Big Feelings: About Strength, Change, and Two Homes

When a child’s world is split between two homes, feelings can get very big. And the grown-ups beside them are often tired too.

Three gentle stories and quiet practices, made to be read slowly, together. Obe meets fear in the dark, changes that are hard to understand, and the experience of having two homes — and learns something important: “Two homes do not mean less love. Love can live in two places.”

The back of the book offers caregivers clear, accessible notes connecting the stories and practices to research in emotional development, co-regulation, and mindfulness-based approaches.

You are safe.
You are allowed to feel.
You are not alone.

Brandweer Obe

Verhalen om te voelen: Over kracht, verandering en twee huizen

Voor momenten waarop gevoelens te groot worden — een zacht boek om samen weer tot rust te komen.

Drie korte, zachte verhalen voor jonge kinderen en hun ouders of verzorgers. Brandweer Obe komt situaties tegen die voor veel jonge kinderen herkenbaar zijn: spanning in het donker, veranderingen die moeilijk te begrijpen zijn, en gevoelens die groot kunnen aanvoelen in een klein lichaam.

Met korte, zachte oefeningen en, achter in het boek, een heldere uitleg voor ouders en verzorgers over emotionele ontwikkeling en co-regulatie.

Je bent veilig.
Je mag voelen wat je voelt.
Je bent niet alleen.

Pompier Obe

Histoires pour les grandes émotions : Sur la force, le changement et deux maisons

Quand les émotions deviennent trop grandes, ce livre propose simplement de s’asseoir avec elles — ensemble.

Trois histoires douces, accompagnées de pratiques calmes. Obe traverse la peur dans le noir, le changement difficile à comprendre, et le fait d’avoir deux maisons. Sans chercher à trop expliquer, les histoires laissent de la place aux émotions.

Le livre contient aussi des pages destinées aux adultes, avec des repères clairs et accessibles.

Tu es en sécurité.
Tu peux te sentir comme ça.
Tu n’es pas seul·e.

By Jelle Smets · Our books on Amazon

  • Ages 3–6
  • 82 pages
  • Paperback & hardcover
  • 3 languages

Who it’s for

For children ages 3 to 6 navigating big feelings.

And for parents, caregivers, educators and families navigating change. This book is for you if:

  • your child feels overwhelmed, anxious, or sensitive
  • your family is going through change (like separation or two homes)
  • your child struggles with bedtime or nighttime fears
  • you want to support emotions without “big explanations”
  • you believe in gentle, responsive parenting

Two homes, many families

Written with separation and divorce in mind. Also gentle for parents living apart, foster and adoptive families who keep birth-family contact, and families spread across countries.

Three stories for big moments

Read slowly, together.

  1. Firefighter Obe and the Dark Night

    When the light goes out and shadows appear.

  2. Firefighter Obe and the Big Change

    When things are different and hard to understand. Obe learns: “This is not my fault.”

  3. Firefighter Obe and the Two Homes

    When a child wonders, “Where do I belong?” and hears, gently: “Where you are, that’s where you belong.”

In each story, Obe pauses, breathes, names the feeling, and becomes Omega Obe: still Obe, but with magic to feel, to say what they feel, and to ask for help.

Inside the book

Inside the book

The stories

Three short, soothing stories follow Obe as they experience fear, change, and the feeling of having two homes — and learn that feelings can be named, held, and softened.

Illustrated page that reads: Let’s take one calm breath together.

Quiet Practices for Big Feelings

Simple, guided practices at the end of the book help children and caregivers slow down, breathe, notice the body, and return to calm together.

For Grown-Ups

A short, gentle explanation shares the research behind the stories and practices — in clear, accessible language.

A glimpse inside

Six pages from the English edition

Where to buy

Available on Amazon worldwide, wherever Amazon ships.

Every edition comes in paperback and hardcover. Below are quick links to some Amazon stores; it isn’t a complete list. Prices are set by each Amazon store and shown there in local currency.

Quick links to Amazon stores
Quick links to Amazon stores for Firefighter Obe, by country
CountryStoreEditions
CanadaAmazon.caAmazon.ca: English paperbackAmazon.ca: English hardcoverAmazon.ca: French paperbackAmazon.ca: French hardcover
BelgiumAmazon.com.beAmazon.com.be: Dutch paperbackAmazon.com.be: Dutch hardcoverAmazon.com.be: French paperbackAmazon.com.be: French hardcover
NetherlandsAmazon.nlAmazon.nl: Dutch paperbackAmazon.nl: Dutch hardcover
FranceAmazon.frAmazon.fr: French paperbackAmazon.fr: French hardcover
United StatesAmazon.comAmazon.com: English paperbackAmazon.com: English hardcover
United KingdomAmazon.co.ukAmazon.co.uk: English paperbackAmazon.co.uk: English hardcover
GermanyAmazon.deAmazon.de: English paperbackAmazon.de: English hardcover
JapanAmazon.co.jpAmazon.co.jp: English paperback

Bulk orders

Ordering larger quantities

Single copies are sold through Amazon. Schools, libraries, bookshops, counsellors and childcare networks can order larger quantities directly from the publisher. Email contact@wordandworth.ca with the title, language edition, format and quantity.

Ask about a bulk order

Editions & details

Available in three language editions.

Cover of Firefighter Obe: Stories for Big Feelings, a red firefighter helmet on a blanket tent in a sunlit meadow

Firefighter Obe

English edition

Paperback ISBN9781067536800

Hardcover ISBN9781067536817

Cover of Brandweer Obe, the Dutch edition

Brandweer Obe

Dutch edition

Paperback ISBN9781067536824

Hardcover ISBN9781067536831

Cover of Pompier Obe, the French edition

Pompier Obe

French edition

Paperback ISBN9781067536855

Hardcover ISBN9781067536848

Book details
AuthorJelle Smets
GenreChildren’s picture books
Reading age3 to 6 years, and the grown-ups who read with them
Length82 pages
FormatsPaperback and Hardcover
LanguagesEnglish (Firefighter Obe), Dutch (Brandweer Obe), French (Pompier Obe)
PublisherWord & Worth, Vancouver, BC
Published2026

For parents & educators

This book is not about fixing emotions. It is about staying with them — together.

How the book supports co-regulation, how to read it together — and review copies for counsellors, schools, childcare networks and libraries.

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